Mail-bag catcher



June-5; 31923. v l W. F. BECHTEL MAIL BAG CATGHER Filed Nnv. l5 1921 2Sheets-Sheet l Jun@ 5, w23

'W. F. BECHTEL MAIL BAG CATCHER Filed Nov. 15'. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2ath new Patented time 5, i923.

ET SATS WILLIAM: F. BECHTEL, OF LEHIG-H, IOWA.

lv'IAL-BAG CATCHER.

Application filed November To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that VILLIAM F. BnoHTnL, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Lehigh, in the county of yWebster and State ofIowa, has invented new and useful Improvements in Mail-Bag Catchers, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The object of the invention is to provide simple and efficient means foruse in connection with railway mail trains for catching and collectingthe mail while the train is in motion to avoid the stopping` orreduction of the speed thereof at mail stations, and4 more particularlyto provide a device of this type which is adapted upon receipt of themail sack or package to immediately discharge the same into the mail carto avoid the possibility of dropping the same and obviate the necessityof the attendant reaching out beyond the plane of the side of the car toremove the sack from the catching means; and with these objects in viewthe invention consists in a construction and combination of parts ofwhich a preferred embodimentis shown in the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a side view of a mail catching apparatus embodying theinvention, showing the same from the inner side of the car and arrangedin position for operation.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same.

Figure 3 is a front view of the mail receptacle.

Figure 4. is a horizontal sectional view of the mail receptacle.

Figure 5 is a detail view of the cushioning pad carried by thereceptacle in the path of mail sack-s or packages received thereby.

The apparatus consists essentially of a swinging receptacle 10 mountedfor pivotal movement in a horizontal plane upon an upright spindle 11and provided with a grip or handle 12 by which it, may be moved to theoperative position indicated in Figures 1 and 2.

Extending inwardly from the receptacle is an arm 13 to which ispivotally connected a link 14;, and with the free end of this link areconnected opposed tensile springs 15 and 16. There is a stop 17 on thearm 13 arranged in the path of the link and serving to prevent thelatter from swinging movement rearwardly beyond a position in the planeof the arm 13, and the effect of the opposed tensions of the springs 15and 16 when the receptacle is in the operative posi- 15, 1921. SerialNo. 515,302.

tion indicated in Figures l and 2, is to swing the receptacle to theinoperative or mail discharging position with the open front of thereceptacle directed inwardly toward the car. To hold the receptacle inthe mail receiving position as indicated in Figures 1 and 2, inopposition to the tension of the spring l5, there is employed aretaining hook 18 pivoted at 19 for downward swinging movement from itsengaging position and engaged with a keeper or eye 2O on the receptacle.The tendency of this hook to swing 1n the direction indicated by thearrow in Figure 1 and thereby become disengaged from the eye 20 andrelease the receptacle for folding movement under the stress of thespring 15may as illustrated be supplemented by a spring 2l., but whenthe hook 1s @ranged in engagement with the eye 2O to which position'itmay be moved by means of an operating cord 22 designed for manipulationby the operator or mail clerk, it is held in such position by the strainon the hook due to the tendency of the receptacle to be returned to itsnormal position by the springl 15. Any severe jar applied to thereceptacle or more especially to the outer end or projecting` portion ofthe receptacie in a rearward direction as shown by the arrow adjacentthereto, and for eX- ainple such a jar as that which is applied by amail sack or package forcibly entering the receptacle or caught by thereceptacle while the car is in forward motion, will tend to move thereceptacle slightly in the direction indicated by said arrow adjacentthereto and thereby relieve the hook of the strain applied thereto bythe eye 20, which will .release the hook and allow it to be disengagedfrom the eye so that the spring 15 may then swing the receptacle to theposition to discharge the mail sack or other package into the car.

The connection of the operating spring 15 with the receptacle iseffected through the agency of the link 14 and the opposing spring 16 inorder that there may be an opportunity for a rearward movement of theouter or exposed end of the receptacle 10 to permit of its release fromthe hook and hence the return of the receptacle to the interior of thecar.

As above indicated the grip or handle 12 is designed to facilitate themovement of the receptacle to its receiving or exposed position, andwhen so swung it is only necessary eye and thereby look the receptaclein the rei ceiving position.

Arranged within the receptacle in the path of objects projectingthereinto or caughty thereby is a cushioning pad 23 shown in detail inFigurey 5 and secured in place by terminal hooks Q in Contact with aseat consisting of a series of transversely disposed coiled springs 25spanning an opening Q6 in the rear vwall of the receptacle. Obviouslysaid Cushion or pad isdesigned to cushion the blow of the mail sack or,other package against the receptacle to avoid injury to either. f

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new and useful is LAmail catching-apparatus having a receptacle mounted for swingingmovement 'in a horizontal plane to project an end there- Vot beyond thevertical plane of the side of a ear, a return spring connected with theinner end of the receptacle for swinging the latter to its normalposition within the car, and means, releasable by a jar appliedrearwardly to the eX osed end of the' receptacle for holding the a-tterin its mail receiving position in opposition to said return spring, thereceptacle being provided with a grip or handle for swinging the same toits receiving position, and an operating cord being connected with saidlooking means for moving thelatter to the receptacle engaging position.

2. A mail catching apparatus having a receptacle mounted for swingingmovement in a horizontal plane to project an end thereof 'beyond thevertical plane of the side of a ear, ra return spring connected with theinner end of the receptacle for swinging the latter to its normalposition within the car, and means, releasable by a j ar appliedrearwardly to the exposed end of the recepta- Cle i'or holding thelatter in its mail receiving position in opposition to said returnspring, the connection between the reoeptaele and the return springhaving a. link p'ivotally mounted upon the receptacle for swingingmovementin the plane thereof and having said return spring Connectedwith the free end thereof, and a second spring connected with said linkin opposing relation with the return spring.

In testimony whereof he aiixes his signature.

y WILLIAM F. BECHTEL. y

